Our seats at the Hannah Montana concert.
Yeup, we were way up there. But it was fun anyways!
Wednesday, October 31
Lofty
Miss Julie, I am soooo stealing today's post title from you. I know it's your word, I said you could have it. But I'm taking it back. It's mine, I used it first, so there! ;) But I just can't help it because it describes, perfectly...
Our seats at the Hannah Montana concert.
Yeup, we were way up there. But it was fun anyways!
Our seats at the Hannah Montana concert.
Yeup, we were way up there. But it was fun anyways!
Monday, October 29
Reasonable
I tend to think of myself as a fairly reasonable person. Scott says a lot of the time I am "too nice." Maybe that's the case, and maybe that's why I put up with his sh**. ;) Yes, I do manage and help with a couple of groups here in town. I am not paid to do this, but I still try to do the best I can to make sure events, times and locations are appealing to as many people as possible. But I can't make everyone happy all the time, so I figure if I have a large number of people who think I am doing a good job (translation: people who show up and/or participate in some way on a regular basis) then that is good enough.
And honestly... if something reasonable is asked of me and is within expectations of what I should do, then I will do it. If it's small, I will generally take care of it immediately. More to get it out of the way than anything, and usually because it means I am going through my email anyways (since that's how I receive requests) and that directly translates to fewer items on my "to do" list.
I also tend not to question reasonable requests. If it's a straightforward request, then it will be done without much feedback from me. I don't think simple requests require discussion or for me to question the requestor's motivation. And I generally don't attempt to talk people out of them. That is why I would describe them as "simple" or "reasonable" requests.
In short, don't ask me to do something if you don't want me to. And don't expect me to feel bad if what you asked for wasn't really what you wanted. And don't worry, if this pertains to you then you probably know who you are.
I feel better now.
And honestly... if something reasonable is asked of me and is within expectations of what I should do, then I will do it. If it's small, I will generally take care of it immediately. More to get it out of the way than anything, and usually because it means I am going through my email anyways (since that's how I receive requests) and that directly translates to fewer items on my "to do" list.
I also tend not to question reasonable requests. If it's a straightforward request, then it will be done without much feedback from me. I don't think simple requests require discussion or for me to question the requestor's motivation. And I generally don't attempt to talk people out of them. That is why I would describe them as "simple" or "reasonable" requests.
In short, don't ask me to do something if you don't want me to. And don't expect me to feel bad if what you asked for wasn't really what you wanted. And don't worry, if this pertains to you then you probably know who you are.
I feel better now.
Tomorrow
I am taking the girls to Portland. Why this mid-week jaunt over the pass?
We are going to see "Hannah Montana" at the Rose Garden.
I think this puts me squarely into the "certifiable" category. But it's all good. And the girls are understandably - ecstatic. No, that might not be a strong enough term. Overjoyed? Delirious? That's closer. Deliriously overjoyed? Yeah, that's probably about right.
Now Stinky - that's a totally different story. I have four tickets (knowing full well that Scott would laugh even more hysterically if I had asked him to go). And when I asked Stinky if he was interested, he responded "what do I look like, a ten year old GIRL?!"
So it will just be me and the girls heading to P-town tomorrow night. My friend Carrie is going with us, so it really is a girls' night out. Which, I have been informed, is the name of an actual song by "Hannah Montana". I am new to the whole "Hannah" phenom, since we only recently started getting the Disney channel. It's a cute show, and it could be a lot worse. Have you ever seen "The Wiggles"? Apparently you can go to their concerts, too. *shudder* It is shocking to me what a big deal this concert has been in the news. I don't think my mom bought our crummy whoever-on-ice tickets from scalpers at several hundred dollars each. Just for the record, neither did I. Apparently we got lucky... because a lot of other people did.
Let's hope "Hannah" gives all of us in the nosebleed seats a wave. And wish me luck!
We are going to see "Hannah Montana" at the Rose Garden.
I think this puts me squarely into the "certifiable" category. But it's all good. And the girls are understandably - ecstatic. No, that might not be a strong enough term. Overjoyed? Delirious? That's closer. Deliriously overjoyed? Yeah, that's probably about right.
Now Stinky - that's a totally different story. I have four tickets (knowing full well that Scott would laugh even more hysterically if I had asked him to go). And when I asked Stinky if he was interested, he responded "what do I look like, a ten year old GIRL?!"
So it will just be me and the girls heading to P-town tomorrow night. My friend Carrie is going with us, so it really is a girls' night out. Which, I have been informed, is the name of an actual song by "Hannah Montana". I am new to the whole "Hannah" phenom, since we only recently started getting the Disney channel. It's a cute show, and it could be a lot worse. Have you ever seen "The Wiggles"? Apparently you can go to their concerts, too. *shudder* It is shocking to me what a big deal this concert has been in the news. I don't think my mom bought our crummy whoever-on-ice tickets from scalpers at several hundred dollars each. Just for the record, neither did I. Apparently we got lucky... because a lot of other people did.
Let's hope "Hannah" gives all of us in the nosebleed seats a wave. And wish me luck!
Sunday, October 28
Clean
After a few weekends of work, it's finally clean! That's right... my car (which has NEVER spent a night indoors) will finally be "garaged".
Which means the Stinky one won't have to scrape the ice off my windshield. Isn't he lucky?
There is still the small matter of Scott's boxes of random "stuff" to go through. And a few things we put on Bend Freecycle and Craigs List.
Wooooooo-hoo!!
Which means the Stinky one won't have to scrape the ice off my windshield. Isn't he lucky?
There is still the small matter of Scott's boxes of random "stuff" to go through. And a few things we put on Bend Freecycle and Craigs List.
Wooooooo-hoo!!
Friday, October 26
Bookworm
I like books. Old books, new books, borrowed books... novels, biographies, gardening, cookbooks... doesn't matter. It's hard for me to sell books after I have read them. They are like friends... so I have a LOT of books at home. I like the convenience of being able to pick them up on a whim and re-read my favorite parts or even the whole thing. It has also been really fun to hear the kids talk about books that they would like to read... and then be able to pull my old copy off the shelf so that they can enjoy it too!
Books come to live in my house from many places. Some are gifts. Others were purchased in airports during long layovers. Many were traded, or picked up at library or YMCA book sale. Still more were purchased at a thrift store or garage sale. And of course, quite a few are purchased from "regular" bookstores too! I also love the library - it's a great place to make new "book friends" and often I will buy a book that I checked out and liked.
I also get books from my family, especially from my grandfather. My grandfather was an avid reader. Unfortunately now he has very poor eyesight due to macular degeneration. He listens to books on tape, and while he keeps many books for visitors to his apartment is in the process of giving many of them away. One of my favorites from him is the entire set of The Complete Works of Mark Twain. They are beautiful, well-made books that we enjoy handling and reading. He has also given us countless National Geographic "picture" books, mysteries, and nautical fiction. Last year he gave Stinky a great copy of Jane's Fighting Ships of WWII - complete with notations on the ships he worked, including dates and rank. It's a great book, and a nice connection to his past that we value.
Anyways, I am never disappointed to see a new bookstore open. Especially one that is close to home or the office. Today I visited Between the Covers for the first time. The main draw for me, aside from the books, was the coffee and wifi. One of the things that bothers me about Barnes & Noble is it's not cozy. One of the things that bothers me about Thump is that there are no books to browse. Between the Covers brings all of these together. (The format reminds me a bit of the Green Gables shop in Newport, where there is a small cafe together with a used bookstore.) Between the Covers seems well-organized and has a nice variety of new books. I spent most of my time browsing the youth fiction section. I noticed many of my kids' favorite authors, old and new, on the shelves. They also have picture books and board books (including Snuggle Puppy, Carrie!).
And the place is just darn cozy. There are smaller gathering areas downstairs, and they are working on furnishing the upstairs for larger groups and meetings. There is a children's play room in the works (hopefully to be well-stocked with books, as well). The kitchen in the back has Strictly Organic coffee (serve yourself) and pastries from the Sparrow Bakery. There are old-fashioned candies ranging in price from a dime on up, so keep an eye on your little ones as they peruse the area around the register. I didn't ask, but maybe someday they will have espresso... and then I would just have to move in (or rent the secret apartment next door).
But then where would Scott and the kids sleep?
Books come to live in my house from many places. Some are gifts. Others were purchased in airports during long layovers. Many were traded, or picked up at library or YMCA book sale. Still more were purchased at a thrift store or garage sale. And of course, quite a few are purchased from "regular" bookstores too! I also love the library - it's a great place to make new "book friends" and often I will buy a book that I checked out and liked.
I also get books from my family, especially from my grandfather. My grandfather was an avid reader. Unfortunately now he has very poor eyesight due to macular degeneration. He listens to books on tape, and while he keeps many books for visitors to his apartment is in the process of giving many of them away. One of my favorites from him is the entire set of The Complete Works of Mark Twain. They are beautiful, well-made books that we enjoy handling and reading. He has also given us countless National Geographic "picture" books, mysteries, and nautical fiction. Last year he gave Stinky a great copy of Jane's Fighting Ships of WWII - complete with notations on the ships he worked, including dates and rank. It's a great book, and a nice connection to his past that we value.
Anyways, I am never disappointed to see a new bookstore open. Especially one that is close to home or the office. Today I visited Between the Covers for the first time. The main draw for me, aside from the books, was the coffee and wifi. One of the things that bothers me about Barnes & Noble is it's not cozy. One of the things that bothers me about Thump is that there are no books to browse. Between the Covers brings all of these together. (The format reminds me a bit of the Green Gables shop in Newport, where there is a small cafe together with a used bookstore.) Between the Covers seems well-organized and has a nice variety of new books. I spent most of my time browsing the youth fiction section. I noticed many of my kids' favorite authors, old and new, on the shelves. They also have picture books and board books (including Snuggle Puppy, Carrie!).
And the place is just darn cozy. There are smaller gathering areas downstairs, and they are working on furnishing the upstairs for larger groups and meetings. There is a children's play room in the works (hopefully to be well-stocked with books, as well). The kitchen in the back has Strictly Organic coffee (serve yourself) and pastries from the Sparrow Bakery. There are old-fashioned candies ranging in price from a dime on up, so keep an eye on your little ones as they peruse the area around the register. I didn't ask, but maybe someday they will have espresso... and then I would just have to move in (or rent the secret apartment next door).
But then where would Scott and the kids sleep?
Runner
It was a cold and windy day... but the runners ran anyways! (Cuz that is what runners do.) It was beautiful and sunny outside, but many of the spectators were wrapped in blankets and the rest of us were shivering. Brrr! Winter is definitely on it's way!
First pass through the park...
Kicking it into the finish line...
First pass through the park...
Kicking it into the finish line...
Thursday, October 25
Vegetable
Jen gave me some beautiful vegies from her CSA box tonight after the COWPU meeting. Thank you, Jen!
Our favorite? A beautiful head of Romanesque Broccoli! (AKA "fibonacci broccoli" or "fractal food".) Yes, apparently vegetables are for math nerds, too! We had to look around the Internet to see what it was - thank goodness for Google image search. I broke off a piece for Stinky to try and he likes it! It's a lot like cauliflower, but has a stronger flavor. Isn't it pretty?
There was also regular broccoli and cauliflower, beets, celery, spinach, and a few varieties of potatoes. Wow, thanks for sharing with us! I think this bag inspired to sign up for the CSA next year!!
Our favorite? A beautiful head of Romanesque Broccoli! (AKA "fibonacci broccoli" or "fractal food".) Yes, apparently vegetables are for math nerds, too! We had to look around the Internet to see what it was - thank goodness for Google image search. I broke off a piece for Stinky to try and he likes it! It's a lot like cauliflower, but has a stronger flavor. Isn't it pretty?
There was also regular broccoli and cauliflower, beets, celery, spinach, and a few varieties of potatoes. Wow, thanks for sharing with us! I think this bag inspired to sign up for the CSA next year!!
Wednesday, October 24
Monday, October 22
Na...Mo
Man... who comes up with this stuff? And why, oh why do I feel obliged to participate? I mean it... isn't there enough to do during the month of November without agreeing to
Maybe it will be fun, maybe it won't. But I am going to give it the old college try anyways. Wanna join me?
NaBloPoMo - aka National Blog Posting Month. I participated last year, and came pretty darn close to posting every day. Maybe this year I will stick to it and think of something interesting for all y'all to read every day in November. So tell me - any suggestions for themes or topics?
NaNoWriMo - aka National Novel Writing Month. I have to be honest, this scares the bejeezus out of me. Why can't it be National Cookbook Writing Month? But I have always wanted to at least try to write a novel (I was a lit major in college), so maybe this will inspire me to get a start on things. Or not. We'll see!
Wish me luck... and if you are participating let me know. Maybe we can cheer each other on, or celebrate with martini's on December 1 if we survive!
- Post to my blog every single day
- Attempt to write a 50,000 word (roughly 175 page) novel
Maybe it will be fun, maybe it won't. But I am going to give it the old college try anyways. Wanna join me?
NaBloPoMo - aka National Blog Posting Month. I participated last year, and came pretty darn close to posting every day. Maybe this year I will stick to it and think of something interesting for all y'all to read every day in November. So tell me - any suggestions for themes or topics?
NaNoWriMo - aka National Novel Writing Month. I have to be honest, this scares the bejeezus out of me. Why can't it be National Cookbook Writing Month? But I have always wanted to at least try to write a novel (I was a lit major in college), so maybe this will inspire me to get a start on things. Or not. We'll see!
Wish me luck... and if you are participating let me know. Maybe we can cheer each other on, or celebrate with martini's on December 1 if we survive!
Sunday, October 21
Cookies
This is via Deby's virtual cookie exchange. Wanna join the fun? Post a recipe on your blog and leave me (and Deby) a comment with a link. If you don't have a blog, you can leave your recipe in the comment section. I am looking forward to trying out some new holiday favorites!
Double Chocolate Treasures
1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c butter
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 c powdered sugar
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c oats
1/4 t salt
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt 1 c chocolate pieces. Stir until smooth; cool slightly. Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs, vanilla, and melted chocolate. Add combined dry ingredients except powdered sugar; stir in remaining chocolate pieces. Refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours. Preheat oven to 350. Shape dough into 1" balls; roll in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack. Store in airtight container.
Enjoy!
Double Chocolate Treasures
1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c butter
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 c powdered sugar
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c oats
1/4 t salt
In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt 1 c chocolate pieces. Stir until smooth; cool slightly. Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs, vanilla, and melted chocolate. Add combined dry ingredients except powdered sugar; stir in remaining chocolate pieces. Refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours. Preheat oven to 350. Shape dough into 1" balls; roll in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack. Store in airtight container.
Enjoy!
Saturday, October 20
Pancakes
When Scott and I moved in together, one of his contributions to the household was a fabulous recipe for pancakes. That's right... fabulous. Not yummy, not fantastic... fabulous.
Part of what makes them fabulous is that the recipe is pretty easy. Mix the dry ingredients together, mix the wet ingredients together, then mix 'em all together. No weird ingredients either - it's all stuff that everyone that cooks on a semi-regular basis has in their kitchen.
But here's a secret - I hate to make pancakes. Something about making six at a time, and then waiting, and then six more, and then waiting again... just not my thing. But of course we all love pancakes so in the past we compromised - I made the batter, and Scott had griddle duty.
Last night when we were thinking about dinner, someone suggested pancakes. And then I had a brilliant idea. The kids are old enough to cook. Even Boo (8) can make things like brownies (from a mix) and Top Ramen. So, we let the three of them have at it.
They did all of the work themselves, with a few questions about using the griddle and what kind of oil to use. The batter was mixed, and QP started working on cooking them.
We went over to investigate, and the batter looked pretty thin to me but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Until I tried one.
They were awful.
I can't figure out what they did, but whatever it was, it was very very bad. So we washed the rest of the batter down the sink, the kids cleaned up the kitchen, and we ordered a pizza.
Maybe we'll let them try again next week.
Until then... here is the recipe!
Part of what makes them fabulous is that the recipe is pretty easy. Mix the dry ingredients together, mix the wet ingredients together, then mix 'em all together. No weird ingredients either - it's all stuff that everyone that cooks on a semi-regular basis has in their kitchen.
But here's a secret - I hate to make pancakes. Something about making six at a time, and then waiting, and then six more, and then waiting again... just not my thing. But of course we all love pancakes so in the past we compromised - I made the batter, and Scott had griddle duty.
Last night when we were thinking about dinner, someone suggested pancakes. And then I had a brilliant idea. The kids are old enough to cook. Even Boo (8) can make things like brownies (from a mix) and Top Ramen. So, we let the three of them have at it.
They did all of the work themselves, with a few questions about using the griddle and what kind of oil to use. The batter was mixed, and QP started working on cooking them.
We went over to investigate, and the batter looked pretty thin to me but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Until I tried one.
They were awful.
I can't figure out what they did, but whatever it was, it was very very bad. So we washed the rest of the batter down the sink, the kids cleaned up the kitchen, and we ordered a pizza.
Maybe we'll let them try again next week.
Until then... here is the recipe!
Snow
The first snow of the season came this morning... and is already melting. It will probably be gone by noon. Winter is on it's way!
Thursday, October 18
Preso
Tonight I will be talking about Ribbit for the PDXRIA group over in Portland. If you are in the area stop by and say hi!
This is my first "official" presentation for another group so I am a little nervous. Hopefully it will go OK!
The weather forecast is mostly wind, wind, and more wind. Fortunately it looks like the snow level is rising (to about 8000 feet) so I am hoping to avoid driving home in snow and ice!
This is my first "official" presentation for another group so I am a little nervous. Hopefully it will go OK!
The weather forecast is mostly wind, wind, and more wind. Fortunately it looks like the snow level is rising (to about 8000 feet) so I am hoping to avoid driving home in snow and ice!
Wednesday, October 17
Happy!
She's big, she's happy, and she's super slobbery. She loves to swim, run, fetch, and chomp pine cones. She outweighs all the kids. We are looking forward to many more years of fun with her!
Monday, October 15
Corny
Last weekend (yes, the one before we just finished- I am behind)... we took the kids to the corn maze. Not the pumpkin patch, since we weren't quite organized enough to get on the road earlier in the afternoon. But we sure had fun exploring the maze in the dark!
Everything starts off in the pirate ship. You enter through a "gangplank" on the other side.
If you go around the far side there are stairs and you can explore the deck. There is a slide and the kids can "walk the plank" - jumping off into a pile of mattresses and straw.
Then the fun begins...
We all got pretty lost in the ma(i)ze. Eventually Stinky went off on his own, and the girls also split off from us. Stinky found his way through several times. Scott had to go in and look for the girls while I was stationed at the exit. Everyone had a great time - after all it's just a corn maze right?
Everything starts off in the pirate ship. You enter through a "gangplank" on the other side.
If you go around the far side there are stairs and you can explore the deck. There is a slide and the kids can "walk the plank" - jumping off into a pile of mattresses and straw.
Then the fun begins...
We all got pretty lost in the ma(i)ze. Eventually Stinky went off on his own, and the girls also split off from us. Stinky found his way through several times. Scott had to go in and look for the girls while I was stationed at the exit. Everyone had a great time - after all it's just a corn maze right?
Thursday, October 11
Bus-ted
In my travels the other day I noticed a large sign announcing that the Mt Bachelor Park & Ride lot is CLOSED effective October 8th. This is the large lot off Simpson and Colorado, where the Mt Bachelor shuttle bus has picked up and dropped off people heading to the ski area in years past.
I checked the Mt Bachelor website and didn't see anything about the shuttle service changing, and the site still states that they are selling bus passes. Currently the site states:
If anyone from Mt Bachelor is reading this... what's up? I have friends that have already purchased their season bus passes and they are steaming. Is there a plan in place, or did they waste their money?
I checked the Mt Bachelor website and didn't see anything about the shuttle service changing, and the site still states that they are selling bus passes. Currently the site states:
You can catch the Mt. Bachelor Super Shuttle at the Bend Park-N-Ride on the corner of Simpson and Colorado on the west side of Bend.Since ski season is still 4-6 weeks away hopefully this information will be updated soon. If you have purchased or are planning to use the shuttle to get to the mountain I suggest you keep an eye on their webpage for updated information.
If anyone from Mt Bachelor is reading this... what's up? I have friends that have already purchased their season bus passes and they are steaming. Is there a plan in place, or did they waste their money?
Wednesday, October 10
Sanitized
If you haven't seen this one yet, they you probably aren't reading this blog because you don't have a computer!
We just call ours "Stinky". And no, I don't know anyone that's ever attempted an SQL injection attack. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
We just call ours "Stinky". And no, I don't know anyone that's ever attempted an SQL injection attack. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Marginalized
Interesting... I wonder what this guy's back story is? He comes across as very intelligent and well spoken. He isn't alone in his ideas but I wonder what motivates him...
"My freedom is more important than your faith." ~Pat Condell
Any thoughts, Internets? Do you agree or disagree?
"My freedom is more important than your faith." ~Pat Condell
Any thoughts, Internets? Do you agree or disagree?
Monday, October 8
Menu
Via The Flying Mum... a post in the form of a restaurant menu.
Appetizers
Baby Artichokes - flash steamed and then broiled with herb butter (Oops, not really. They sounded good when I went to the produce stand but I don't know if anyone besides me would have eaten them)
Toasted buttery rounds with soft cheddar (read: Ritz crackers with easy Cheez)
Entrees
Lasagna with meat sauce and three cheeses (Sorry kids, the chef was too lazy to make something with more than 4 ingredients. Maybe tomorrow?)
Elbow pasta with light sauce and zesty chicken (translation: Kraft mac with chicken in BBQ sauce)
Dessert
Anything with chocolate?!
Cocktails
Yes, please!
Sides
It's been a Monday to beat all Monday's. I am beat and ready for a break. I think it's the changing of the seasons, but I have a headache and the brain cells just don't seem to be firing right.
This coming weekend is going to be a weekend for grandparents - Stinky is off to visit his in Seattle and I am going to see my Gramps in Medford. For me it should be a quiet couple of days, with lots of visits to Elmer's and the Red Lobster on the agenda. Maybe I will get some reading done, too!
Appetizers
Baby Artichokes - flash steamed and then broiled with herb butter (Oops, not really. They sounded good when I went to the produce stand but I don't know if anyone besides me would have eaten them)
Toasted buttery rounds with soft cheddar (read: Ritz crackers with easy Cheez)
Entrees
Lasagna with meat sauce and three cheeses (Sorry kids, the chef was too lazy to make something with more than 4 ingredients. Maybe tomorrow?)
Elbow pasta with light sauce and zesty chicken (translation: Kraft mac with chicken in BBQ sauce)
Dessert
Anything with chocolate?!
Cocktails
Yes, please!
Sides
It's been a Monday to beat all Monday's. I am beat and ready for a break. I think it's the changing of the seasons, but I have a headache and the brain cells just don't seem to be firing right.
This coming weekend is going to be a weekend for grandparents - Stinky is off to visit his in Seattle and I am going to see my Gramps in Medford. For me it should be a quiet couple of days, with lots of visits to Elmer's and the Red Lobster on the agenda. Maybe I will get some reading done, too!
Wednesday, October 3
Moo
This post is partly for Deby... but also for a couple of others that emailed me asking how to buy "half a beef".
Last year it was easy. I mentioned to someone that we were thinking about doing this, and a friend gave me the email address for someone that they knew who was selling their cattle. I emailed him, we agreed on a price, I mailed him a check, called the butcher to tell them how we wanted our "half" cut, then paid the butcher when we picked up our beef.
I have to say, the beef was much higher quality and had better flavor than grocery store meat. Our beef was hormone-free which was also very attractive. There are also many health benefits and the meat from grass-fed animals is much leaner.
This year I called the same person back, but he only had one animal ready this fall. The rest won't be ready until spring. Bummer!
Since I can't imagine going all winter without a good stock of hamburger, stew meat and roasts in my freezer I decided to look at craigslist. I typed "beef" into the search box and there are several listings for people selling quarter, half, and whole animals.
At this time we still haven't decided what to do. Last year we purchased half a Dexter which is a much smaller animal. Most of the beef on craigslist is Angus - and from what I am told this means our "half" could be 50-100 lbs heavier than last year. Do we really need that much? Last year we shared our "half" (250 lbs.) with a friend. Maybe this year we need to think about going in with another family (so we'd get a third of our half... hee!). But on the other hand now that Stinky is with us full time, our grocery bill is considerably higher.
At any rate... here are some suggestions if you are thinking about buying from a local farmer:
So... that's what I know about the subject. If you have any other tips to share with me and other prospective beef buyers please comment!
Last year it was easy. I mentioned to someone that we were thinking about doing this, and a friend gave me the email address for someone that they knew who was selling their cattle. I emailed him, we agreed on a price, I mailed him a check, called the butcher to tell them how we wanted our "half" cut, then paid the butcher when we picked up our beef.
I have to say, the beef was much higher quality and had better flavor than grocery store meat. Our beef was hormone-free which was also very attractive. There are also many health benefits and the meat from grass-fed animals is much leaner.
This year I called the same person back, but he only had one animal ready this fall. The rest won't be ready until spring. Bummer!
Since I can't imagine going all winter without a good stock of hamburger, stew meat and roasts in my freezer I decided to look at craigslist. I typed "beef" into the search box and there are several listings for people selling quarter, half, and whole animals.
At this time we still haven't decided what to do. Last year we purchased half a Dexter which is a much smaller animal. Most of the beef on craigslist is Angus - and from what I am told this means our "half" could be 50-100 lbs heavier than last year. Do we really need that much? Last year we shared our "half" (250 lbs.) with a friend. Maybe this year we need to think about going in with another family (so we'd get a third of our half... hee!). But on the other hand now that Stinky is with us full time, our grocery bill is considerably higher.
At any rate... here are some suggestions if you are thinking about buying from a local farmer:
- Ask how the animal is raised - it should be grass-fed. Any hormones?
- What butcher will be used?
- Is the hang/cut/wrap included in the price, or is it separate?
- What is the approximate hanging weight? Of that hanging weight how much will you actually put in the freezer?
- What does the butcher do with the waste? Can you opt to take any of the waste for soup bones, dog bones, etc?
- If your price includes the waste, find out what it is and consider taking it. Even if you don't have a dog, you probably know someone that does! They will thank you for it!
- Buy a good freezer! We bought a chest specifically for the purpose of storing our beef.
So... that's what I know about the subject. If you have any other tips to share with me and other prospective beef buyers please comment!
Tuesday, October 2
Food
One of my favorite places from our trip to Mexico was the Mercado in Manzanillo. One side was for produce (and other "sanitary" foods) and the other was for meat. I had to move through the meat side quickly because the smell was so strong - but not without purchasing some wonderful sausages and fish. I purchased fresh rolls from a panaderia, and eggs from another stand. On the produce side I felt like Alice in Wonderland - so many wonderful options, how could I choose? I remember selecting potatoes, limes, strawberries, melon, and vegies in pidgin Spanish. Two large bags and about $3 later... I think the person running the stand thought I was nuts and buying too much. (We really did eat it all - I fixed our breakfast and lunch every day and we ate dinner out.)
And that's when I realized something. When entering the market we had passed a young family with a child and a baby. They asked for money and Scott gave them some pesos. The girl looked at the money and almost cried, saying "gracias, muchas gracias!" I realized after making our purchases at the Mercado that Scott had probably given her enough money to feed her family for a week - maybe two.
With that in mind, take a look at What the world eats, a photo essay on the Time website. You may be surprised how much - and how little - families around the world consume in a week, and the relative costs.
The most interesting thing to me? How many fruits and vegetables - and even just "whole" foods in general - were on each table. All the people who wonder why "kids today" are so fat needs only to take a look at these pictures. It's amazing how many pre-packaged foods are on many of the tables from around the world.
Don't get me wrong - we are not short on pre-packaged foods in our household either. But it really makes me reflect on why we rely on so many foods in cardboard boxes and plastic bags. Is a carrot really better when it's peeled, shaved down, and turned into a "baby" carrot? I just don't understand why people buy those things. Even for convenience's sake... you can buy a bag of carrot sticks for maybe a third of the price of the baby carrots. Maybe someone will explain that to me some day...
Where does your food come from? Yes, a lot of mine comes from the supermarket too. But last year we bought half a beef from a local farmer, and it was extremely good. We plan to do this again. I keep thinking about joining a co-op during the summer and getting the weekly produce boxes, but I like to plan my meals and shop accordingly. I used to shop at Top Banana in Redmond when I lived there - but there is a new produce shop in Bend (on 2nd Street) that I really need to check out now that they are open.
If I could efficiently shop for and purchase my other grocery needs from similar sources I probably would. Any suggestions?
And that's when I realized something. When entering the market we had passed a young family with a child and a baby. They asked for money and Scott gave them some pesos. The girl looked at the money and almost cried, saying "gracias, muchas gracias!" I realized after making our purchases at the Mercado that Scott had probably given her enough money to feed her family for a week - maybe two.
With that in mind, take a look at What the world eats, a photo essay on the Time website. You may be surprised how much - and how little - families around the world consume in a week, and the relative costs.
The most interesting thing to me? How many fruits and vegetables - and even just "whole" foods in general - were on each table. All the people who wonder why "kids today" are so fat needs only to take a look at these pictures. It's amazing how many pre-packaged foods are on many of the tables from around the world.
Don't get me wrong - we are not short on pre-packaged foods in our household either. But it really makes me reflect on why we rely on so many foods in cardboard boxes and plastic bags. Is a carrot really better when it's peeled, shaved down, and turned into a "baby" carrot? I just don't understand why people buy those things. Even for convenience's sake... you can buy a bag of carrot sticks for maybe a third of the price of the baby carrots. Maybe someone will explain that to me some day...
Where does your food come from? Yes, a lot of mine comes from the supermarket too. But last year we bought half a beef from a local farmer, and it was extremely good. We plan to do this again. I keep thinking about joining a co-op during the summer and getting the weekly produce boxes, but I like to plan my meals and shop accordingly. I used to shop at Top Banana in Redmond when I lived there - but there is a new produce shop in Bend (on 2nd Street) that I really need to check out now that they are open.
If I could efficiently shop for and purchase my other grocery needs from similar sources I probably would. Any suggestions?
Monday, October 1
Show-y
Via The Flying Mum... Congratulations! You are a top executive at a breakout new cable TV company. TV Guide wants to publish a sampling of your new fall lineup. For this post, please provide them with a description of some of the new shows.
Flipper - No, not the dolphin. This is for all you channel surfers who are too darn lazy to flip the channel yourself. Or, if your spouse is a channel surfer then this is a great way for those lonely nights when your sig is away on business. It's like they are there! Flipper shows 5-30 second snippets of commercials, reality TV, sitcoms, infomercials, and Seinfeld reruns.
Name that Crash - Have you ever been sitting in the living room, relaxing while reading a book when an undetermined "crash" sound emanates from another part of your home? Join us while we explore common causes and distinguishing characteristics of household crashes.
It Wasn't Me! - Can you tell which kid did it? Whether it's sticky soda on the kitchen floor or an unflushed toilet, we'll get to the bottom of common household mysteries.
Happy watching!
Flipper - No, not the dolphin. This is for all you channel surfers who are too darn lazy to flip the channel yourself. Or, if your spouse is a channel surfer then this is a great way for those lonely nights when your sig is away on business. It's like they are there! Flipper shows 5-30 second snippets of commercials, reality TV, sitcoms, infomercials, and Seinfeld reruns.
Name that Crash - Have you ever been sitting in the living room, relaxing while reading a book when an undetermined "crash" sound emanates from another part of your home? Join us while we explore common causes and distinguishing characteristics of household crashes.
It Wasn't Me! - Can you tell which kid did it? Whether it's sticky soda on the kitchen floor or an unflushed toilet, we'll get to the bottom of common household mysteries.
Happy watching!
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